Welcome

The Environmental Assessment and Optimization (EAO) Group focuses on building tools to reduce the environmental impacts of energy systems. One focus is on understanding greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from fossil energy systems. Also, we build optimization tools to improve the environmental and economic performance of energy systems. Our approach includes building engineering-based bottom-up life cycle assessment (LCA) models to generate rigorous estimates of environmental impacts from energy extraction and conversion technologies. In optimization areas we focus on renewable-fossil hybridization and integration.

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Even oilfields aren’t immune to the ravages of time: A new study co-authored by Mohammad Masnadi and Prof. Adam Brandt finds that as some of the world’s largest oilfields age, the energy required to keep them operating can rise dramatically even as the amount of petroleum they produce drops.

Arvind Ravikumar and Prof. Adam Brandt show that recent regulations to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry will cost 27% less than EPA estimates. However, the agency is also likely to fall short of its mitigation targets.Arvind Ravikumar can be reached on Twitter at @arvindpawan1

A study co-authored by Prof. Adam Brandt finds that just a few natural gas wells account for more than half of the total volume of leaked methane gas in the United States. Fixing leaks at those top emitters could significantly reduce leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

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For prospective students: I do not generally have time to answer queries about applying to Stanford, as I get many such emails. I generally admit 1 to 4 new graduate students per year, so please feel comfortable to apply if you are interested in our work.